14 Brilliant STEM Activities for Elementary

A common question I get is around where to start with STEM Activities for Elementary. Which activities do I recommend? Well here it is! My top picks for STEM Activities for Elementary!

Elementary is a fantastic time to introduce STEM activities. Science, Technology, Engineering and Math combine to create some fascinating lessons that really get kids excited to learn. Plus, we always like to throw in a little Art (making STEAM), whenever we can. Adding in art helps to promote creativity and innovative thinking. Something that adds a lot to the critical thinking and logical problem skills developed through STEM.

Top Pick STEM Activities for Elementary

Our Top picks for STEM activities for elementary students

So where to start with STEM in Elementary? With young kids it is very important that all activities work towards fostering a love of learning and an understanding of the scientific process. It should help them develop skill sets in inquiry, so they become strong critical thinkers.

But above all, they need to have fun.

I like to use the term passion pursuits. Where we let kids dive down rabbit holes. Exploring the topics and areas that fascinate them and capture their attention.

Another facet of STEM that is important to keep in mind is that it needs to incorporate at least 2, preferably more, of the 4 pillars. The best STEM activities are integrated and use skill sets the way they are used in the real world. Not as single subject silos.

So with all of that, here are some of our favourite STEM Activities for Elementary aged kids. This is far from an exhaustive list. There are so many cool activities you can do with your kids. I’ve picked activities that should work with a wide range of abilities and ages since Elementary includes such a large age range. Need more ideas? Check the bottom of this article for links to even more ideas.

Make It Move

This Make it Move activity is always a huge hit with kids. Especially if you are working in groups and can set up some races to test the designs. Although not an Art project, this one does encourage a lot of creativity and out of the box thinking. Plus it is a lot of fun!

MAKE IT MOVE! - STEM Challenge that kids of all ages will love as they race to the finish!

Wind Power LEGO STEM Challenge

This Windmill STEM project has a fantastic book tie in, making it a wonderful unit study that has global appeal. The book, The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind, is also available at a variety of reading levels so the project can be easily adapted for different ages and abilities. In this STEM activity, kids harness the power of the wind by creating a windmill that will rescue a Lego minifig.

Wind Power STEM Challenge - Mission: Lego Rescue. A fantastic STEM challenge that encourages the creation of mechanical energy with a tinker box windmill to "rescue" a minifig.

Make Plastic From Milk

We have made plastic a few different ways but the reason I pick this one for elementary is due to a few reasons. First, younger kids usually love their milk, which makes it fun to use it in experiments. Milk can also be turned into plastic without the need for a stove (although you do still need a microwave to warm the milk), which makes it easier for younger kids to be in charge of all the steps. Plus this way of making plastic is quite easy and the finished pieces can be painted and kept as keepsakes.

Make plastic from milk. Create your own toys, beads, jewelry, and more, with ingredients you have right now in your kitchen. It's so easy and super cool!

Bottle Rockets With Launch Pad

All kids LOVE launching bottle rockets! It is a fun and explosive science experiment that always results in whoops of joy. In this activity we are not only exploring the science behind the chemical reaction, but also the physics of the forces behind the lift off, plus students are challenged to build launch pads to hold their rockets as they prepare for launch. This is definitely an outdoor activity and one that they will ask to do over and over again.

Bottle Rockets - Simple and Fun Summer STEM with Chemistry and Engineering

Homemade Slushies

Thirsty? Well just give me an hour or two and I can make you a very special science slushie! Yes, this DIY Slurpee activity might take a bit of time, but it really excites kids when they get a sweet treat to enjoy at the end of their science lesson. Students use technology to explore the process of heat transfer and the science behind how salt and ice interact.

Sweet slurpee science is a fantastic activity for kids, with a tasty result they will love. This simple heat transfer experiment is perfect for all ages.

Why Does Water Rise? STEM Investigation

In this ‘Why Does Water Rise?’ activity kids are introduced to a concept that seems like magic, until we do a bit of investigation. Using some simple technology we explore how heat and temperature changes create a vacuum. The best part is that even understanding the science behind this activity, doesn’t change how fun it is to watch!

Why Does Water Rise? Best Science Experiments for Kids!

Circuit Wands

Kids love a little magic! This circuit wand activity is inspired by Harry Potter and teaches them how to build a simple circuit with a break so they can cast Lumos and Nox. The simplistic design of this circuit makes it great for kids new to circuit building and electricity science experiments.

Harry Potter Wands project for kids using STEM principles

Bartholomew and the Oobleck Inspired STEM

Elementary kids love this Oobleck STEM Activity featuring a wonderful Dr. Seuss book! Oobleck is a non-Newtonian fluid, which means it is sometimes solid, sometimes liquid, depending on pressure. For this lesson kids are challenged to engineer their own village with a special “sky”. Then it’s time to put those math skills to the test as they perfect the ratio of ingredients and make oobleck. Once they start the oobleck raining down on the village they can study the cool non-Newtonian properties as it transitions from solid to liquid.

Bartholomew and the Oobleck STEM Activity

Lemon Battery

Do you think you can power a light bulb with a lemon? You bet you can! In this STEM activity kids build a lemon battery, learn about electrical circuits, battery cells and light a bulb! All with lemons. A fantastic group project, just are fascinated with this process. It also involves using some technology, a multimeter.

Lemon Battery science experiment teaches elementary students about electricity, electrons, conductors, electrodes, electrolytes, volts and more.

Don’t forget to save those Lemons and make Lemon Volcanoes when you are all finished!

Lemon science experiment creating a beautiful, sensory rich exploding lemon volcano

Glow Salt Circuit

This is a fairly simple activity that involves a little art as students make their designs. Science is then explored as students learn how salt is conductive and helps move electrical currents. Finally, we end the experiment, sitting in a dark room with a glowing circuit and lit LED bulbs!

Glow Salt Circuit STEAM Activity

Elephant Toothpaste

This classic experiment is a foamy blast of educational experimentation that will have kids engaged, learning and having fun! Using simple supplies from around the house, you can make this foamy fountain we affectionately call Elephant Toothpaste.

Elephant Toothpaste Experiment

Circuit Bugs (or Circuit Flowers… why not both!)

This is a great project for upper elementary students. It involves a little more advanced circuit building and can be a bit finicky, but the results are fantastic! Circuit Bugs and Circuit Flowers have been built by students all over the world.

The original Circuit Bugs a circuit craft and activity
With the popularity of our Circuit Bugs STEM Activity it was time to come up with something new, something with a little extra art. Introducing Circuit Flowers! Explore chromatography, diffusion, engineering and circuit building with this hands on STEAM activity. Great for mothers' day, spring, girls in STEM, and more!

Balloon Rockets

This is such a fun activity, especially when kids have ants in their pants and need to MOVE! Challenge kids to decorate their balloons, then explore Newton’s laws as they race balloon rockets. Add in a little math by having them time the races and see how they can improve their decorations and designs to make their balloons faster. The kids are going to get moving with this one!

Exciting, hands on physics activities that explore Newton's Laws of Motion. An inquiry based lesson plan to facilitate deeper learning and retention.

Have a blast incorporating STEM into your lessons and watch those faces light up with passion and a love for learning!

Top STEM Activities for Elementary